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Info Source – Sources of Federal Government and Employee Information

Introduction to Info Source

Info Source: Sources of Federal Government and Employee Information provides information about the functions, programs, activities and related information holdings of government institutions subject to the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act. It provides individuals and employees of the government (current and former) with relevant information to access personal information about themselves held by government institutions subject to the Privacy Act and to exercise their rights under the Privacy Act.

The Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act assign overall responsibility to the President of Treasury Board (as the designated Minister) for the government-wide administration of the legislation.

Background

The Military Grievances External Review Committee (MGERC) (formerly the Canadian Forces Grievance Board)Footnote 1 was established on March 1, 2000 as a result of legislation that contained comprehensive amendments to modernize the National Defence Act (NDA). These amendments are designed to help renew the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). One of the reforms was aimed at creating an independent review of grievances through the establishment of the Committee. The establishment of the Committee is defined in section 29.16 of the NDA. Article 7.21 of the Queen's Regulations and Orders applicable to the Canadian Forces (QR and O) that govern the types of grievances referred to the Committee came into effect on June 15, 2000. The Committee is an independent administrative tribunal reporting to Parliament through the Minister of National Defence.

Responsibilities

The Committee reviews military grievances referred to it and provides findings and recommendations (F&R) to the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) and the officer or non-commissioned member who submitted the grievance.

The Committee also has the obligation to deal with all matters before it as informally and expeditiously as the circumstances and the considerations of fairness permit.

Institutional Functions, Programs and Activities

Review of Canadian Armed Forces Grievances

The MGERC, an independent tribunal, reviews military grievances referred to it pursuant to section 29 of the NDA which provides a statutory right for an officer or a non-commissioned member who has been aggrieved, to grieve a decision, an act or an omission in the administration of the affairs of the CAF; this is, with certain narrow exceptions, the only formal complaint process available to members of the CAF.

The Committee provides F&R to the CDS and the CAF member who submitted the grievance. The F&R may also identify issues with policies or other matters of broad concern.

The Committee conducts its review as informally and expeditiously as the circumstances and the considerations of fairness permit.

The Committee reports the results of its activities through its annual report and various publications.

Case Management and Research

Description:

Includes records related to the management of grievances and associated research activities including case analysis, identification of systemic issues and monitoring
CAF follow-up on the Committee's recommendations for further action, maintenance of a database of precedents and legal opinions, information on the application of regulations, and policies and guidelines governing the conditions of work in the
CAF.

Canadian Armed Forces Member Grievance References

Description:

This bank contains information, forwarding comments, recommendations and decisions resulting from grievances submitted by members of the
CAF and referred to the
MGERC by the
CDS. In addition to the requirements indicated on the Personal Information Request Form, individuals must provide their full name and service number. Individuals wishing to access only specific information should identify the material desired to expedite the processing of their requests.

Class of Individuals:

Members of the
CAF who have submitted grievances which have been referred to the
MGERC pursuant to the
NDA.

Purpose:

The information is used by the
MGERC in dealing with grievances referred to the Committee pursuant to the
NDA.

Consistent Uses:

The information may be used for research, planning, evaluation and statistical purposes. It may also be used in the dissemination of precedents, and in the preparation of reports pursuant to the
NDA.

Retention and Disposal Standards:

These records are kept for seven years and are then destroyed, unless they form part of substantial and precedent-setting grievance case files meeting specific criteria.

RDA Number:

2010/002

Related Record Number:

MGERC3400–3499

TBS Registration:

004448

Bank Number:

MGERC PPE 801

Internal Services

Internal services constitute groups of related activities and resources that are administered to support the needs of programs and other corporate obligations of an organization. These groups are management and oversight services, communications services, legal services, human resources management services, financial management services, information management services, information technology services, real property services, materiel services, acquisition services, and travel and other administrative services. Internal services include only those activities and resources that apply across an organization and not to those provided specifically to a program.

Acquisition Services

Acquisition services involve activities undertaken to acquire a good or service to fulfill a properly completed request (including a complete and accurate definition of requirements and certification that funds are available) until entering into or amending a contract.

Communications Services

Communications services involve activities undertaken to ensure that Government of Canada communications are effectively managed, well coordinated and responsive to the diverse information needs of the public. The communications management function ensures that the public—internal or external—receives government information, and that the views and concerns of the public are taken into account in the planning, management and evaluation of policies, programs, services and initiatives.

Financial Management Services

Financial management services involve activities undertaken to ensure the prudent use of public resources, including planning, budgeting, accounting, reporting, control and oversight, analysis, decision support and advice, and financial systems.

Human Resources Management Services

Human resources management services involve activities undertaken for determining strategic direction, allocating resources among services and processes, as well as activities relating to analyzing exposure to risk and determining appropriate countermeasures. They ensure that the service operations and programs of the federal government comply with applicable laws, regulations, policies and plans.

Information Management Services

Information management services involve activities undertaken to achieve efficient and effective information management to support program and service delivery; foster informed decision making; facilitate accountability, transparency and collaboration; and preserve and ensure access to information and records for the benefit of present and future generations.

Information Technology Services

Information technology services involve activities undertaken to achieve efficient and effective use of information technology to support government priorities and program delivery, to increase productivity, and to enhance services to the public.

Management and Oversight Services

Management and oversight services involve activities undertaken for determining strategic direction and allocating resources among services and processes, as well as those activities related to analyzing exposure to risk and determining appropriate countermeasures. They ensure that the service operations and programs of the federal government comply with applicable laws, regulations, policies or plans.

Materiel Services

Materiel services involve activities undertaken to ensure that materiel can be managed by departments in a sustainable and financially responsible manner that supports the cost-effective and efficient delivery of government programs.

Legend

Standard Classes of Records (CoRs)

Standard Personal Information Banks (PIBs)

Classes of Personal Information

In the course of conducting the program activities of the Committee, categories of personal information may be accumulated which are not contained in institution-specific personal information banks. Such personal information may consist of compliments, complaints, suggestions, opinions, proposals, enquiries, mailing lists and other correspondence which may include names, addresses, telephone numbers, etc. This type of information is not normally retrievable by the name of an individual or other personal identifier. It can be located only if specific and sufficient details are provided concerning the event or activity of interest. The retention period of this information is controlled by the records disposal schedules of the general subject files in which it is stored.

Manuals

Canadian Forces Grievance Board Rules of Procedure (Review of a Grievance by Way of a Hearing) SOR/2000-294.

Additional Information

The Government of Canada encourages the release of information through requests outside of the ATIP process. You may wish to consult the Committee’s completed Access to Information (ATI) summaries. To make an informal request, contact:

If you wish to submit a formal request to receive Military Grievances External Review Committee records, please fill out an Access to Information Request Form or send a letter stating that you are seeking records under the Access to Information Act, and provide as much detail as possible about the information you are seeking. Mail your completed form or letter to the address below, along with the required application fee of $5.00 by cheque or money order made payable to the Receiver General for Canada. Without the application fee, correspondence will not be treated as a request under the Act.

If you are seeking access to your own personal information under the Privacy Act, no fee is required; however, you should submit a Personal Information Request Form or a letter containing sufficient detail to enable us to locate your records.